Final answer:
Fermentation regenerates NAD+ from NADH, not NADPH, allowing glycolysis to continue in the absence of oxygen and enabling ATP production to proceed. The statement is false because fermentation produces NAD+, not NADPH.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that fermentation allows glycolysis to continue by providing the NADPH needed to accept high-energy electrons is false. Fermentation does not produce NADPH; instead, it regenerates NAD+ from NADH. This process allows glycolysis to continue in the absence of oxygen by providing the needed oxidized form of the electron carrier, NAD+. Glycolysis generates a net of two ATP molecules per glucose molecule, and it's the fermentation process that converts NADH back to NAD+, but without yielding any additional ATP. This oxidation reaction enables the continuance of glycolysis and thus the production of ATP through this pathway. Microbial fermentation is used in various applications, such as the production of food, fuels, and pharmaceuticals, and for microbial identification.